CarsReview.ushttp://www.carsreview.us Car Reviews and News at CarsReview.usTue, 31 Mar 2015 09:47:24 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1What You Need to Know About Leasing Carshttp://www.carsreview.us/what-you-need-to-know-about-leasing-cars.html http://www.carsreview.us/what-you-need-to-know-about-leasing-cars.html#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 09:47:24 +0000http://www.carsreview.us/?p=733When it’s time to purchase a new vehicle, you already have to worry about which of the many makes and models to choose from. Then considering deprecation, maintenance costs, and, of course, getting a good deal can be a real headache too. Leasing a car from a supplier such as LeaseCar gets rid of all those factors, and instead let’s you focus on the most important thing: finding a car you love to drive. Here are some of the options available to you.

Contract Hire/Purchase

A contract hire is the most popular form of leasing, and can be used for both business and personal use. The main benefit here is that you’ll be able to choose between a large array of vehicles on a fixed monthly payment plan, usually structured over two-to-four years. Primarily your annual mileage will determine your monthly rate so it’s important to make sure you know how many miles you’re driving, as well as considering any changes to your lifestyle that might occur over the length of the contract. If you exceed your limit, you’ll be forced to pay an excess mileage charge.

You could instead take out a contract purchase agreement. This way, you’ll be presented with more options once the contract comes to an end. You can make a balloon payment to fund the purchase of the vehicle outright or you could trade the vehicle in at a dealership for another car. If the trade-in value is greater than the guaranteed future value you’ll be able to use the difference as a deposit.

Finance Leasing

Finance leasing is the ideal choice for sole traders, partnerships, VAT registered businesses and other companies. Similar to other leasing agreements, you’ll have full use of the vehicle throughout all the contracted period. Once the contract has ended, though, the provider will then sell the vehicle to a third-party.

It’s also important to remember that when leasing a vehicle for business use, you’ll normally be able to reclaim only 50% of the VAT back. This is because HMRC considers that it’s likely the vehicle will also be used for some personal use. However, if you can prove that the vehicle is being used exclusively for business, it’s possible to reclaim 100% of the VAT. To learn more, take a look here.

Choose the option that suits you best and take a look at our latest car reviews to make sure you choose a vehicle you’re completely satisfied with.

]]>http://www.carsreview.us/what-you-need-to-know-about-leasing-cars.html/feed0Genuine OEM Car Parts vs Aftermarket Parts – Which To Go For?http://www.carsreview.us/genuine-oem-car-parts-vs-aftermarket-parts-which-to-go-for.html http://www.carsreview.us/genuine-oem-car-parts-vs-aftermarket-parts-which-to-go-for.html#commentsFri, 27 Mar 2015 17:34:24 +0000http://www.carsreview.us/?p=697If, like many others, you enjoy carrying out your own repairs and maintenance on your car; you’ll generally find you’re faced with two options when purchasing parts. You either make the decision to stick with genuine OEM parts or go for the, often slightly cheaper, aftermarket parts. Of course, this isn’t necessarily always an easy decision to make and, as such, we wanted to take a look at this in a little more depth to try and help make it a little easier for you. In order to do so, we’ve teamed up with leading Honda parts retailer, Cox Motor Parts.

What Are Genuine OEM Car Parts?

In short, genuine OEM car parts are those which are manufactured and supplied by the car manufacturer themselves. If you drive a Vauxhall, as an example, OEM parts are those which are Vauxhall branded and bought from a main dealer. If you drive a Honda, on the other hand, the OEM parts available to you are those supplied by a Honda dealer. They are, as you’d expect, those recommended by the vehicle manufacturer and those which guarantee to maintain the performance of your car. Of course, who wouldn’t want to have the performance of their car maintained and, as such, it’s always suggested that you stick to OEM parts when carrying out work yourself.

What Are Aftermarket Parts?

On the other hand, aftermarket parts are essentially any which don’t fall into the OEM category. When you purchase from your local ‘auto centre,’ you’ll generally find you’re buying aftermarket parts. They’re often a little cheaper than OEM parts, however, unfortunately, you won’t receive the same quality guarantee. Only the car manufacturers themselves know the exact specifications for parts and, as such, you’ll often find that the performance of aftermarket parts can vary considerably. In many instances, this simply means that they won’t last as long, however who wants to be replacing parts and carrying out maintenance more often than absolutely necessary?

Above all else, genuine OEM parts offer quality, reliability, and performance – making them the easy choice every time for those carrying out maintenance and replacing parts. Unfortunately, however, too many are swayed solely by the cost and fail to look at the bigger picture. Yes, aftermarket parts may be slightly cheaper up front, however when you look at the fact that OEM parts will often last longer and that the savings are only minimal, does it really make sense to purchase aftermarket parts? As far as we’re concerned, it doesn’t and OEM parts should ALWAYS be your purchase of choice.

]]>http://www.carsreview.us/genuine-oem-car-parts-vs-aftermarket-parts-which-to-go-for.html/feed0Hamilton is surprised by Ferrari’s speedhttp://www.carsreview.us/hamilton-is-surprised-by-ferraris-speed.html http://www.carsreview.us/hamilton-is-surprised-by-ferraris-speed.html#commentsFri, 27 Mar 2015 16:58:01 +0000http://www.carsreview.us/?p=716Lewis Hamilton was the first to admit that Ferrari’s speed that the Maranellos showcased during Friday’s practice took him a little bit by surprise.

Although the reigning champion managed to beat Kimi Raikonnen’s time by fourth tenths of a second, he had to acknowledge the progress that the Italian team made since the previous season. “The Ferraris look great, they really do. Surprising to see how close they are this weekend.” – said Hamilton when they asked for his input regarding the Finn’s pace.

This wasn’t Hamilton’s biggest problem however. The difficulties with his power unit persist and the possibility of a forced engine change has already come up. Although he managed to get the top time during the practice, he wasn’t all that satisfied with the gear shifts and thought the car could be even faster without those technical obstacles.

Hamilton thinks that because of those problems, the preparation for the second race of the year wasn’t ideal. “They’ve been pretty heavily compromised. Whenever you lose a session that definitely doesn’t help, as well as half if not more of the second session. The team did an amazing job to re-build the car and I’m very grateful. Just to have got some laps were crucial. Sunday will be hard” – he said.

The Mercedes team started out the season in the best possible way with Hamilton placing 1st and Nico Rosberg 2nd at the opener in Melbourne. The team that won the Formula One World Constructors’ title last season in a landslide (and with a new record) looks primed to repeat in the new season. Many fear that the World Drivers’ Championship could turn out to be a snooze fest, but with Hamilton’s technical problems, the Malaysian GP could turn out to be one of the more exciting races of the season.

In accordance to your financial capabilities, make a list of cars that you like. Which cars make you stop and look when walking outside? Or maybe you like your friend’s car? If that’s the case, ask your friend what he likes and doesn’t like about his car. When making the list of cars you like, keep in mind your family’s needs too, as well as the fuel consumption.

Set up your budget

Before you engage in buying a used vehicle, it is important to sit down and determine the amount of money you are willing to spend. You have to be realistic in determining this, and be sure to take into account the cost of repair and maintenance, as well as the fuel economy of the desired car. If you plan on taking a loan or some other form of financing, calculate the monthly payments for the loan and for the fuel.

Do a little research

After you have set the budget and determined the few car models that you like, research the potential problems that these cars might have, as well as their market prices. Visit internet forums and websites that sell vehicles to gather information. You can visit online directories such as eBay or craigslist, or you can research and find the best supermarkets for cars in your country. One great car supermarket in the Northwest is Fords of Winsford, located in Winsford, Cheshire, UK. If you are from the United Kingdom, I recommend you visit Fords of Winsford’s website www.fow.co.uk and take a peek at their collection of cars. FOW offers all makes and models and at very competitive prices – you can find used BMWs, Volvos, Mercedes, Audi, basically every major car brand you can think of.

Stay focused

As soon as you start searching for cars online, you will definitely get distracted from a lot of flashy, pumped up cars. Although you can get lucky and find a used sports car that is fancy and shiny but still cheap, think about using this car in your everyday life. Is it practical? Will it suit your needs? If the answer is no, stay focused and stick to your plan and instead of wasting your valuable time looking at used fancy cars, look for the car that you really need.

Do a full and thorough check on the car

Besides checking the bodywork, engine and interior of the vehicle, you absolutely need to take a test drive with closed windows and the radio shut down. This way, you can hear how the engine works and whether it makes weird noises. It is recommended that you also take a test drive uphill. Ask the seller about a full history check and maintenance records. The best way to avoid buying a poorly kept vehicle or even worse, a stolen vehicle, is to buy from a supermarket for cars. Fords of Winsford make a thorough history check on the cars before they accept them for reselling. If you want complete security, this supermarket will provide you with prompt maintenance records for every one of their cars – this is one of the reasons why so many people buy from FOW. Their customer database span over the entire UK – Manchester, Oldham, Warrington, Stoke, Burnley, Chester, Blackburn, Crewe, Telford, Wigan, Wrexham, Bolton, Widnes, Liverpool, Preston, Shropshire, Wirral, Connah’s Quay, Llandudno, Stockport, etc.

Take a mechanic with you

If you’ve decided to buy your car from a private party, it is mandatory that you take a trusted mechanic with you to check the car. He can determine if the car has some problems much better than your inexperienced eye. If the seller refuses to have the car checked by a mechanic, do not even thing about buying the car. Just walk away and don’t look back – there is no good enough excuse as to why the seller doesn’t want to have the checked. If you however, have decided to buy your car from a supermarket for cars, a mechanic won’t be necessary – a good supermarket will inspect the cars before selling them. For instance, Fords of Winsford double check all of their cars – their team of certified MOT technicians will make sure that you get the car in an excellent condition.

Negotiate the price

When you are sure that you have found the right car for you, it’s time to talk about its price. Never accept the initial price of the car – private sellers deliberately put higher price than the price that they are actually ready to sell the car. They know that buyers will try to haggle.

Go home happy

After you have agreed upon the price, before you make a contract check the information on the traffic booklet and make sure that it’s consistent with the number of the engine, chassis and registration. Then take your new-used pretty car and go home happy!

]]>http://www.carsreview.us/8-useful-tips-for-buying-a-used-vehicle.html/feed0Toyota RAV4 releases a teaser for Auto Show at New Yorkhttp://www.carsreview.us/toyota-rav4-releases-a-teaser-for-auto-show-at-new-york.html http://www.carsreview.us/toyota-rav4-releases-a-teaser-for-auto-show-at-new-york.html#commentsFri, 27 Mar 2015 10:54:09 +0000http://www.carsreview.us/?p=709Toyota has released a photograph of the brand new RAV4 which only shows its rear end but does not give away a lot of information about it. All that is left to do to know more about the car is to wait for the Auto Show in New York which is only a few days away (April 2).

The only thing that can be seen in the photograph is the tail light and an impressive one at that. Toyota is trying to pull in a lot more crossovers with this car and RAV has already proven itself to be a very strong mover.

The US market doesn’t look very strong in the green segment and hence the decision to release a hybrid car now comes as a little surprising.

]]>http://www.carsreview.us/toyota-rav4-releases-a-teaser-for-auto-show-at-new-york.html/feed0Is a Hybrid Vehicle the Right Choice for You?http://www.carsreview.us/is-a-hybrid-vehicle-the-right-choice-for-you.html http://www.carsreview.us/is-a-hybrid-vehicle-the-right-choice-for-you.html#commentsTue, 24 Mar 2015 15:22:14 +0000http://www.carsreview.us/?p=672This is a question if it was asked not even twenty years ago, people would have more than likely laughed right in your face. The age of the hybrid or electric vehicle is in full swing, and the popularity of electric models like the Nissan Leaf are becoming a very trendy choice for North American consumers.

So we return to the question, is a hybrid vehicle going to be the right choice for you in 2015? First let us look at the advantages as explained by Sheridan Nissan:

Cleaner energy, government incentives, smaller efficient cars and engines, optimizing technology to evolve and improve performance. These are just a few things to consider when looking into a hybrid vehicle. When the electric vehicle first was introduced, or hybrid technology for that matter, it was considered “trendy” to own such a vehicle. Now it has evolved from trendy to logical.

The major advantage of having a hybrid vehicle is the fact that you are going to consume a lot less fuel, which will help you save money long-term, as well as short-term. The other factor that doesn’t necessarily affect you, but the environment is lower emissions from a hybrid vehicle.

If you are someone who prides themselves on being pro-environment, or pro-green initiative, then owning a hybrid, or electric vehicle like the 2015 Nissan Leaf, is going to be something that allows you to really enjoy and take part in your passionate belief of helping to improve the ecosystem.

]]>http://www.carsreview.us/is-a-hybrid-vehicle-the-right-choice-for-you.html/feed0Understanding Where the Road to Good Credit Beginshttp://www.carsreview.us/understanding-where-the-road-to-good-credit-begins.html http://www.carsreview.us/understanding-where-the-road-to-good-credit-begins.html#commentsTue, 24 Mar 2015 14:32:16 +0000http://www.carsreview.us/?p=651One major part in the process of purchasing a new or used vehicle, is the stressful process of finding financing. For some of you who have immaculate credit scores, this whole process is simply a laugh, but the fact is good part of the consumer base is struggling to maintain a “Good” credit score. For these people the whole car buying experience is in some ways ruined by the step of financing the vehicle, and receiving a loan with a preferred interest rate. The only real way to overcome this whole fiasco is simply by finding a way to improve your own credit score.

So What Steps Can One Take to Improve Their Credit Score

There are a number of things you can do. Based on the in depth infographic from MrEd.com on “10 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score” there are in fact 10 various ways to actually build up your credit score. We will help to elaborate a few of the key ones:

Obtain a free copy of your credit score. You can do this once per year. Make sure you save it as a .pdf for future reference. In order to even start anything, you need to know what is being reported on your actual credit report.

The most effective choice is paying off past due balances. So if you have debt of say $1000, it is best that you pay off that pas due amount. This facet makes up for almost 35% of your credit history and score. Nearly one-third of your problem resolved right there.

The most surprising one is to take the time to negotiate with debt collectors or creditors to come to terms on repayment. You will be shocked on how willing creditors will be with working out a repayment plan that works for you and for them. This will help you avoid collections most cases or even a negative hit on your credit report.

As mentioned these are just a few things to consider, and there are a handful more worth mentioning. So take the time to look each one. If this whole process becomes overwhelming when purchasing a new or used vehicle, it is recommended that you also take time to seek counsel. There are a number of credit counseling groups out there who are willing to help you rebuild your credit score, and provide feedback. Sometimes conquering such a heavy duty is best done with a team.

]]>http://www.carsreview.us/understanding-where-the-road-to-good-credit-begins.html/feed0Top 3 Features for the 2015 Jeep Patriot SUVhttp://www.carsreview.us/top-3-features-for-the-2015-jeep-patriot-suv.html http://www.carsreview.us/top-3-features-for-the-2015-jeep-patriot-suv.html#commentsMon, 23 Mar 2015 15:52:11 +0000http://www.carsreview.us/?p=679The Jeep Patriot is just one of the many incredible SUV models in the entire Jeep lineup for 2015. The Jeep Patriot has become a very popular choice for those that are fans of the Jeep brand, but can’t find the everyday purposeful use for a Jeep Wrangler. The Patriot is an SUV-Crossover that seats five comfortably.

We wanted to breakdown just a few of the many great features that are available with the all-new Jeep Patriot SUV for the 2015 year.

The Jeep Patriot is capable of running up to 30 miles per gallon, and that is large in part to the 5 or 6 speed transmission option, as well as the refined 2.0L four-cylinder engine. Normally Jeep owners are use to a more “powerful” V6 engine in most of the Jeep vehicles in the lineup, but the lighter weight design over the last few years, has allowed for the automaker to downsize the engine for better overall fuel-efficiency.

A Flip-down liftgate speaker. This is a great choice for those that enjoy taking their Jeep camping for the weekend so you can listen to music, sports radio or music from your mobile device.

Like many of the other vehicles in the Jeep lineup, there is a Trail-Rated off road model which is available for those that do in fact live a bit more adventurous lifestyle. For more information on that you can read it on HoldenDodge.com.

So those are just a few of the top features for the 2015 Jeep Patriot. There are obviously going to be some features that are more important to others, but that is the sole purpose of having a magnitude of features like the Patriot has, so it can appeal to much broader audience.

]]>http://www.carsreview.us/top-3-features-for-the-2015-jeep-patriot-suv.html/feed0Why You Should Change Your Oil as Suggestedhttp://www.carsreview.us/why-you-should-change-your-oil-as-suggested.html http://www.carsreview.us/why-you-should-change-your-oil-as-suggested.html#commentsMon, 23 Mar 2015 14:50:38 +0000http://www.carsreview.us/?p=658As consumers in the modern day we are always going to be skeptical of business and, or sales pitches. We instantly assume that a mechanic is suggesting we have our oil changed between 3,000 and 5,000 miles because they want more from us in terms of revenue.

The fact is that in most vehicles today, you can go beyond that 5,000 mile marker for your next oil change, but in many cases even your owner’s manual will suggest that you have your oil change around the 3,000-5,000 mile area. Note: always refer to your owner’s manual for almost anything related to your vehicle. It is also recommended that you read vehicle forums, as they do exist, and other users of the same vehicle you drive can provide you experienced thought.

Now back to oil changes, and why you should have your oil changed as suggested. Well as Chuck Patterson Dodge wrote, “Dirt and sludge can build up in the engine, and old, dirty oil won’t lubricate the moving parts as well as new, fresh oil will”. So to put it simply, keeping your vehicle fresh with lubrication, will increase the life expectancy of your vehicle. It will also help you to avoid any major engine damage or problems in the future. That is a bill you will not want to experience.

There is nothing more devastating in terms of car costs than replacing engine components, or a transmission. So when it comes up to that suggested 3,000 or 5,000 mile marker for your next oil change, find the time and money to fork over to have the work done. Also make sure that the work is done properly. The fluids aren’t the only thing that should be replaced, replacing your filter is a must. Make sure you also ask the mechanic check your other fluids, and brakes if possible. If a free tire rotation comes with it, then that is an obvious bonus.

]]>http://www.carsreview.us/why-you-should-change-your-oil-as-suggested.html/feed0Specs and Details of the New 2015 Chevrolet Cruzehttp://www.carsreview.us/specs-and-details-2015-chevrolet-cruze.html http://www.carsreview.us/specs-and-details-2015-chevrolet-cruze.html#commentsMon, 23 Mar 2015 11:44:05 +0000http://www.carsreview.us/?p=643The Chevrolet Cruze’s efficiency is through its Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel that offers 46 miles per gallon, a Cuze Eco that goes up to 38 miles per gallon, and Cruze that can go up to 38 miles per gallon on the highway.